Rectifier and detector.



No. 879,062, PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908. G. W. PIERCE.

RECTIFIER AND DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.5,1907.

Q. 5565: T fez/67%;;

UNITED S ATE ATENT ems-E.

sconce W. PIERCE, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO MASSACHUSETTS; wrsnt'sss EQUIPMENT COMPANY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

BE GTIFIER AND DETECTOR.

N0. emcee.

and detectors such as may be successfully used. as receivers in Wireless telegraphy or electric wave signaling systems.

Inprscticing the invention Iemploy as a rectlfier or detector oxid of titanium 1n one of its conductive formsin connection with any suitable means for including such substance in a circuit.

I have discovered that the conductive forms of this substance are asymmetricall conductive when used in, connection wit small currents; and I have also discovered that by reason of this property of asymmetricel conductivity and possibly of other un- Lknownpropertics this-substance when roperly laced between conductive electro es 1s high y sensitive as a receiver for electromagnetic waves.

The oxid of titanium c rnploy'edmay be in the form of metallic titanium which has been oxidized in some suitable manner as by holding it in the oxidizing fla'rneof a blast lamp.

The oxid in this form is esyn'imetrically conductive and may he used .to rectify small oscillatory currents and as a receiver for whi'eless tclegre-phy systems. I have also found that the natural. crystals of OXld of titanium known brookite end as octahedrite or cnetese, are asymmetrically conductivcandfthat c crystal of either of these substanlcesor'a piece suitably cut therefrom and The rectifying or detecting material may be utilized in many and various shapes and may be connected in the circuit of'the receivi-n% or other apparatus in various ways.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown several. forms of :rectifiers and detectors in the accompanying drawings in which s ecinmme of Letterslstont.

Application no r m 6.1007. emu Ho. tosses.

, connecte properly ilaeed between conductive elec-' used. I .i 'The constructions described or any-otheri suitable construction may be utilized to rec-- Planted m. 11, 190B.

, Figures 1 to 3 show diflerent ways in which the rectig mg or detecting material may be p with electrodes. Fig. 4 shows a detector arranged. in a direct connnected receivi system, and Fi 5 shows a detector arrange in an inductive y coupled receiving system.

In the arra ement of F' .1 apiecea of conductive 0x1 of titanium, ercinshowii as a piece of a crystal of octahedrite or anatasc, 1s

old in a clamp, the jaws b and c of which form electrodes making contact with the rectifying or detecti material. 1

I have secured the est results by cutting 1 a piece from a crystal on a plane substantially at right angles to its axis and engaging one of the electrodes with); point or corner of the crystal so that a small area of contact is secured. i

In the arrangement of 2 a crystal or fragment of acrystal d is hel in an ordina jewel mounting and a point of the crystal is engaged b a metallic spring 0. The contact between t e spring a and the detecting materialmay be adjusted by a screw to secure toe character of contact which will give the best results,

In the am'angemcnt shown in Fig. 3 a piece 7 of the conductive oxid of titanium is sealed in the end of a. glass tube 71-. The piece is in contact with a mass of conducting Eliquid within the tube 71, and with a second mass of conductin liquid within a receptacle 1', the masses of i uid forming the electrodes which contact wit 1 the piece 9. The liquid should be such that it Wlll not not upon the oxid 0f titanium and in case anatase 1s used mercury may be used as the liquid electrodes.

Any other suitableform and arrangemenfi of the electrodes and 'of the rectifying or de tecting material may be employed WhIGlJ may bee-found desirable or best suited to the conditions under-which the particular a paratus in which-the invention is embodie s'to be tify small oscillatory currents wherever such rectification is desirable as for instance in invcstigatin telephonic currents. These or other suitable constructiohsinay also be utilized as wove detectors or receivers in any 1 suitable or: well known receiving apparatus for wireless telegraphy systems, and any suit eble form of indicating device be em ployed therewith such for instz'mce as a re ioy a gclvanomete -a telephonicrecciver, a

co illery electrometcr etc.

n Fi 4 a roceiverj embodying the invention'io s 0WD. included in a, direct connected receiving system, invwhich c, telephonic receiver 7c is connected in shunt about the doteci-or, A smcllbcttcry Z may be included in the indicator circuit although I have secured 31c ood if not hotter results without a battery icn is shown included in iu luc 'vely ooupied receiving system In this case the mole-212mg device as shown as galvanonxeter 12 connected in shunt about the receiver.

Qther arrangements of circuits and other forms of mdlcatmg dewces be used wlm or Without a battery in the indicator circuit according to the conditions under which the emcee receiver 15 to be used. 3

"What I claim is r 1., A. rectifier for oscillator currents consisting of 2r conductive oxid o titarrium.

2. A rectifier for oscillatory currents cohs'isting of 'a conductive crystalline oxid of ti- 3' tamum. I

3. Al rectifier for oscillatory currents consisting of octehedrite or cnatase.

4. A receiver for Wireless telegre by systems' consisting of a conductive oxic of tite- 4 nium in contact with two electrodes.

5. A rectifier for osciflating currents consisting of a conductive oxid of titanium in contact with two electrodes.

{3. A receiver for wireles teiegrapl'xy sys- 4 come consisting of ootehedrite or anatase in Contact with two acctrodcs.

7. A rectifier for oscillatory currents consisafiing of octchedrito or smotase in contact with two electrodes, 5

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my v hand, this 19th day of March 1.907.

GEORGE W. PIERCE.

In presence of 11m L. FISH, KATHARINE AZ DUGAN. 

